Hurricane Irma could create one of the largest mass evacuations in U.S. history

Motorists head north on US 1, Sept. 6, 2017, in Key Largo, Fla., in anticipation of Hurricane Irma. Keys officials announced a mandatory evacuation Wednesday for visitors, with residents being told to leave the next day. (Photo11: Alan Diaz, AP)

Florida Governor Rick Scott urged people on Wednesday to move quickly if they plan on evacuating ahead of Hurricane Irma, currently a Category 5 storm wreaking havoc in the Caribbean.

Irma's current projected path as of 8 a.m. could put it on a collision course with South Florida over the weekend and create one of the largest mass evacuations in U.S. history causing major traffic gridlock around the state.

Monroe County evacuated 31,000 people as of 6 p.m. Wednesday while Miami Mayor Carlos Gimenez ordered more than 100,000 Miami-Dade residents to evacuate their homes on barrier islands like Miami Beach and low-lying mainland areas starting Thursday morning. Broward County issued a mandatory evacuation for areas east of Federal Highway on Wednesday

"Evacuation orders are going to be given in a timely manner so people have time to evacuate," Scott said. "But if you wait, that's when the problems are going to happen."

Brevard County Emergency Management officials ordered more than 100,000 residents living on Merritt Island and along the coastal areas to leave their residences and condominiums and evacuate in preparation for Hurricane Irma’s arrival over the weekend.

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The evacuations were set to begin 3 p.m. Friday, giving residents 24 hours to prepare ahead of Irma's anticipated arrival.

In Lee County, evacuations were planned for Friday for barrier islands including Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island, which have a combined population of 24,500 people. Those living in mobile or manufactured homes are under evacuation, which includes 60,900 people.

The evacuation orders are the largest since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

With just two primary highways going north — I-95 along the east coast and I-75 near the west coast — could face tremendous gridlock if the storm hits the peninsula. The Florida Turnpike as well as US-27 and other smaller roads could have similar fates.

The flow of I-75 through Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties showed fast and smooth on Thursday morning but farther north, past the Tampa area, portions were clogged and slow moving due to residents heading away from potential Hurricane Irma damage.

Floridians are heading north ahead of the Friday mandatory evacuation.(Photo11: Florida 511)

According to the Florida 511 web site and confirmed by Florida Highway Patrol Troop F spokesman Lt. Greg Bueno, Southwest Florida's portion of the freeway is running as usual for a weekday.

"Flowing well, no crashes," Bueno reported.

However, an alert issued by the state said motorists could expect delays on I-75 northbound in Sumter and Marion counties approaching Florida's Turnpike through just outside of Ocala.

Two women walk through a wrecked street and homes days after this Caribbean island sustained extensive damage after the passing of Hurricane Irma in St. Martin, on Sept. 15, 2017. Ricardo Arduengo, AFP/Getty Images

A woman walks down a street passed piles of debris in Concordia, on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin on Sept. 15, 2017, after the passage of Hurricane Irma. Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

Streets are cleared of debris at Sandy Ground, just north west of Marigot on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin on Sept. 15, 2017 after the island was hit by Hurricane Irma. Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

A picture taken in Nettle Beach bay on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin on Sept. 16, 2017 shows the damaged Hotel Mercure after the island was hit by Hurricane Irma. Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

A picture taken in Nettle Beach bay on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin on Sept. 16, 2017 shows a damaged tourism complex after the island was hit by Hurricane Irma. Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

A picture taken in Nettle Beach bay on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin on Sept. 16, 2017 shows the damaged Mercure hotel after the island was hit by Hurricane Irma. Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

A picture taken in Nettle Beach bay on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin on Sept. 16, 2017 shows a damaged tourism complex after the island was hit by Hurricane Irma. Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

Burnt out vehicles are pictured at Sandy Ground, just north west of Marigot on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin on Sept. 15, 2017 after the island was hit by Hurricane Irma. Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

A picture taken on Sept. 16, 2017 in the Sandy Ground neighborhood of Marigot shows a broken piano in the Beach Plaza hotel, where French gendarmes securing the area are accommodated, after the island was hit by Hurricane Irma.
The Caribbean island of St Martin was a place of spectacular inequalities before Hurricane Irma flattened rich and poor neighborhoods alike -- but some residents now dream of a fresh start. Ten days after the storm devastated the island, cleaning up and reconstruction remain a priority for St Martin, although repairing roads and buildings before the high season, which usually starts in November and runs until April, seems nearly impossible. Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

A picture taken on Sept. 16, 2017 at Marigot shipyard on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin shows a boat grounded amid rubbles after the island was hit by Hurricane Irma.
The Caribbean island of St Martin was a place of spectacular inequalities before Hurricane Irma flattened rich and poor neighborhoods alike -- but some residents now dream of a fresh start. Ten days after the storm devastated the island, cleaning up and reconstruction remain a priority for St Martin, although repairing roads and buildings before the high season, which usually starts in November and runs until April, seems nearly impossible. Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

A picture taken on Sept. 16, 2017 in the Sandy Ground neighborhood of Marigot shows the Beach Plaza hotel, where French gendarmes securing the area are accommodated, after the island was hit by Hurricane Irma.
Helene Valenzuela, AFP/Getty Images

Cars are piled up on the beach in Marigot, near the Bay of Nettle, on the French Collectivity of Saint Maarten, after the passage of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017. Lionel Chamoiseau, AFP/Getty Images

A man walks past damaged buildings and debris in Marigot, near the Bay of Nettle, on the French Collectivity of Saint Maarten after the passage of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017. Lionel Chamoiseau, AFP/Getty Images

This car has been flipped over on its side in Marigot, near the Bay of Nettle, on the French Collectivity of Saint Maarten, after the passage of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017. Lionel Chamoiseau, AFP/Getty Images

Debris and a boat wash up on the shore in Marigot, near the Bay of Nettle, on the French Collectivity of Saint Maarten, after the passage of Hurricane Irma, Sept. 6, 2017. Lionel Chamoiseau, AFP/Getty Images

A woman walks near damaged homes in Marigot, near the Bay of Nettle, on the French Collectivity of Saint Maarten, after the passage of Hurricane Irma, Sept. 6, 2017.
Lionel Chamoiseau, AFP/Getty Images

A woman stands near damaged homes in Marigot, near the Bay of Nettle, on the French Collectivity of Saint Maarten after the passage of Hurricane Irma, Sept. 6, 2017. Lionel Chamoiseau, AFP/Getty Images

A panoramic photo taken Sept. 6, 2017, shows the Hotel Mercure in Marigot, near the Bay of Nettle, on the French Collectivity of Saint Martin, during the passage of Hurricane Irma.
Lionel Chamoiseau, AFP/Getty Images

An aerial photograph taken and released by the Dutch Department of Defense on Sept. 6, 2017, shows the damage caused by Hurricane Irma in Philipsburg, on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saint Maarten.
Gerben Van Es, AFP/Getty Images

An image made from a video released Sept. 6, 2017 ,by RCI.fm shows flooded streets and damage on the French overseas island of Saint Maarten, filmed from a terrace of the Beach Plaza hotel after high winds from Hurricane Irma hit the island. Rinsy Xieng, AFP/Getty Images